Thucydides’ own final judgment and view of the cause of the Peloponnesian War was that Sparta feared the growth of power of Athens. All of Athens’ history of their rise and their power in the 50 years before the war, confirms his judgment. -since the peace of 455 BC, Pericles was consolidating Athenian resources which made Athens’ navy incomparable and superior to all other navies. In 433 B.C., Athens allied itself with a Corcyra, strong naval power and also Corinth's most bitter enemy. They also renewed alliances with Rhegium and Leontini (in the west). The Spartan food supply from Sicily was becoming endangered. Athens on the other hand, could always create a monopoly of seaborne trade in the Aegean Sea. Because of this, the Peloponnesian War was in some ways a trade war. Corinth asked Sparta to back them up when they fought Athens. Megara and Aegina agreed to help too.
But, if Sparta had not also been really eager for a war with Athens, there could have been peace instead. Sparta was just waiting for the right opportunity to attack Athens and they found it when Athens was temporarily weakened by helping out their ally, Potidaea in Chalcidice in the spring of 432 BC. The city had held out until the winter of 430 BC, but that meant that it was a constant drain on Athenian military and naval resources. Of course Sparta seized the opportunity and when Pericles offered to compromise, Sparta refused with their confident speedy victory. Instead Sparta sent an final offer that would have practically destroyed the Athenian power. Pericles urged the people of Athens to refuse and when they did, Sparta declared war
Map of Greece at the Beginning of the Peloponnesian War (431 B.C.)
Causes of the Peloponnesian War
Thucydides’ own final judgment and view of the cause of the Peloponnesian War was that Sparta feared the growth of power of Athens. All of Athens’ history of their rise and their power in the 50 years before the war, confirms his judgment. -since the peace of 455 BC, Pericles was consolidating Athenian resources which made Athens’ navy incomparable and superior to all other navies. In 433 B.C., Athens allied itself with a Corcyra, strong naval power and also Corinth's most bitter enemy. They also renewed alliances with Rhegium and Leontini (in the west). The Spartan food supply from Sicily was becoming endangered. Athens on the other hand, could always create a monopoly of seaborne trade in the Aegean Sea. Because of this, the Peloponnesian War was in some ways a trade war. Corinth asked Sparta to back them up when they fought Athens. Megara and Aegina agreed to help too.
But, if Sparta had not also been really eager for a war with Athens, there could have been peace instead. Sparta was just waiting for the right opportunity to attack Athens and they found it when Athens was temporarily weakened by helping out their ally, Potidaea in Chalcidice in the spring of 432 BC. The city had held out until the winter of 430 BC, but that meant that it was a constant drain on Athenian military and naval resources. Of course Sparta seized the opportunity and when Pericles offered to compromise, Sparta refused with their confident speedy victory. Instead Sparta sent an final offer that would have practically destroyed the Athenian power. Pericles urged the people of Athens to refuse and when they did, Sparta declared war
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